Pope Francis greets Sister Carmen Sammut, president of the International Union of Superiors General, during an audience with the heads of women's religious orders in Paul VI hall at the Vatican May 12. (CNS/Paul Haring)

"Many church historians have said that there is abundant evidence that women served as deacons in the early centuries of the church. The apostle Paul mentions such a woman, Phoebe, in his letter to the Romans...

UISG president Sr. Carmen Sammut said in a video statement Friday that the sisters at the audience with the pope “were quite excited by the fact that Pope Francis did not leave any question out."

"He really wanted to answer each of our questions," said Sammut. “He was very strong about the fact that women should be in the decision-making processes and the decision-making positions of the church."

Regarding the question on the possibility of women deacons, the UISG president said her group "had proposed that there would be a commission."

"He accepted that proposal and has said that he would bring that forward so that it could be studied even more than it has already," said Sammut. "And I hope that one day there will be a real decision about this."

Friday, May 13, 2016

Left to right, Deacon Kathryn Shea is presented for priestly ordination by Program Companion Priest Mary Theresa Streckwww.arcwp.org

Bridget Mary's Response: Scholarship Supports Female DeaconsI am smiling as I write this commentary on the article reporting Vatican back-tracking below. Once the Commission that Pope Francis called for delves into the scholarship, they will have a lot to share.First, according to the 1976 Pontifical Biblical Commission's Report, the Vatican's own scholarship, there is nothing in scripture that supports a ban on women's ordination...."It does not seem that the New Testament by itself alone will permit us to settle in a clear way and once and for all the problem of the possible accession of women to the presbyterate."

Second, the Ordination Rite that was used to ordain women deacons was identical for men and women. See outstanding scholarship cited below on the comprehensive website quoted below: http://www.womenpriests.org/pordain.asp

So my advice to the Vatican Commission is check out the Pontifical Biblical Commission's report in 1976, visit the womenpriests website quoted above that cites years worth of scholarship by John Wijngaards, and read:

by John Wijngaards, Canterbury Press 2002 In addition they should consult experts like Phyllis Zagano, German theologian Ida Raming and theologian and archaeologist Dorothy Irvin.

Indeed, Pope Francis has opened a hornet's nest at the Vatican! No doubt the hard liners in the Vatican Curia are irritated by opening up this topic for study. They fear that it could lead to women priests!

Yet, I believe that Pope Francis' Commission is a positive first step and could lead to the full equality of women as priests, bishops, and decision makers in a more inclusive, egalitarian church.Our Roman Catholic Women Priests Movement has been ordaining women deacons, priests and bishops to serve in grassroots, inclusive faith communities, thus renewing the church on the margins, one renewed community at a time. Our international movement is calling on Pope Francis to dialogue with us, lift excommunications, and honor primacy of conscience. (We are 225 members on 5 continents, in 13 countries, serving 81 faith communities in 34 states in the United States)

VATICAN CITY — "The Vatican is tamping down any expectations that Pope Francis is about to let women serve as deacons in the Catholic Church anytime soon.

Francis made headlines Thursday when he told a closed-door meeting of some 800 superiors of women's religious orders that he agreed with their proposal to create a commission to study the issue. He was responding to a question about what was impeding women today from serving as deacons, who aren't priests but perform many of the same functions as priests, such as presiding over baptisms, marriages and funerals.

Francis replied that he understood that women deacons in the ancient church weren't ordained, as male deacons are today, and he reaffirmed that women regardless cannot deliver homilies during Mass. But he agreed to set up a commission to study the question, especially the role of women deacons in the ancient church.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, told Vatican Radio on Friday that the pope "didn't say he had any intention of introducing diaconal ordination for women, much less priestly ordination for women."

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Three years ago—May 6, 2013—an African-American dishwasher in
Clevelandwas one of the heroes who helped rescue three womenwho had been
held captive in his neighborhoodfor over 10 years.When reporters asked
him about it, he said,"I knew something was wrongwhen a little pretty
white girl ran into a black man's arms."Charles Ramsey's experience of
racism in Americamade Amanda Berry's running to hima “dead giveaway”
that something was seriously wrong.When CNN’s Anderson Cooper asked
himhow he felt about being a hero, Charles Ramsey said,“I’m a Christian,
an American. I am just like you.We bleed the same blood.”Twenty-five
years ago—May 10, 1991—Terry Anderson,freed after nearly seven years as a
hostage in Lebanon,said he bore no hatred toward his captors."I don't
hate anybody," he told reporters."I'm a Christian and a Catholic,and
it's really required of me that I forgive,no matter how hard that may
be,and I intend to do
that."__________________________________________When I'm a hundred years
old, the majority of Americanswill not be what we Americans think of as
white.Right now, the majority of the world is not white.In fact, whites
make up just 16% of the global population.And the majority of the world is
not Christian.Christians are in first place at 31%,and Muslims are
second at 22%.That makes some people in this country so afraidthat they
are lashing out in anger.When something doesn't go their way,they try to
blame people who are different from
them.__________________________________________Just look at our
world—sometimes it seems as if the Spirit has gone out of it.The very
environment that supports our lifeis being shattered by our greed.War
continues to devastate people—especially the poor—around the world.Here
in our country, too many people of colorhunker down in fear when they see a
police car coming.And, in this election year, we're seeing our country torn
apartby the hateful and vicious bigotry in our political campaigns.We
hear candidates call for immigration policiesthat would deport 11 million
people,separating parents from their children,or for building a wall
across our southern borderto keep out the Mexicans—people whom one
candidate called “rapists.”And there's a proposal to end terrorismby
banning anyone who appears Muslimfrom coming into the country.Is the
Spirit still with us?Sometimes it doesn't seem
so.__________________________________________Most of the 31% of people
in this world who are Christianswill be hearing today's Pentecost
readings.Will they accept the message there for us?The followers of
Jesus were all in one place together.They were all filled with the Holy
Spirit.God was present and active,not some distant abstract
beingthat we might encounter someday after we die.Those early disciples
tried to livein the presence and power of the Spirit of Godevery moment
of every day.__________________________________________In the Gospel,
John talks about how the followerswere huddled in a locked room.Afraid
and alone, wondering what might become of them,they remembered Jesus
words:Peace be with you.Receive the Spirit.Forgive one
another.Just imagine for a minute if,instead of inciting fear and
violence, separation and hatred,our politicians would live those
words.What if they followed the Spirit?What if they listened to Pope
Francis?In February he said, "A person who thinks only about building
walls,wherever they may be, and not about building bridges,is not a true
Christian.This is not in the Gospel."What if our politicians celebrated
Pentecostby remembering how the Holy Spirit has knit togetherpeople of
all nations and languagesto share Jesus' good news?What if they listened
to Dorothy Day?She wrote:“As we come to know the seriousness of the
situation,the war, the racism, the poverty in our world,we come to
realize that things will not be changedsimply by words or
demonstrations.Rather, it's a question of living one's lifein a
drastically different
way.”__________________________________________Here at Holy
Spirit,we try to celebrate Pentecost in every part of our lives,all year
long,year in and year out.Our Tree Toledo project—our one ministry as a
community—was born out of months of discernmentabout how best to use our
limited numbers and resourcesto serve our neighbors.On top of that work
to mitigate climate change,we have donated to many organizationsthat
carry out the works of mercy,like CRS' disaster relief, Compassion on Death
Row,UStogether, 1Matters, Tent City, Seagate Food Bank,the International
Institute for Peace Education,the Dialogue-to-Change anti-racism effort,
Rahab's Heart,Second Chance, Claver House, Padua Center,and the 1for3
water project.And I see each of you,in addition to what we do as a
community,passionately involvedin the spiritual and corporal works of
mercy,living lives of dedication to serving others.Our oxytocin level is
sky-high![In case you missed the homily May 1, when we're generous, kind,
andcaring, our bodies release oxytocin, a hormone that brings feelings
ofwarmth, generosity, euphoria, and connection to others.]

The Spirit
is indeed alive here!And the Spirit will be with usas we go through the
turmoil of this election season.With the same discernment that we live the
rest of our lives,we will go to vote this Novemberwith the principles of
Catholic Social Teachinguppermost in our minds—the right and dignity of
the human personand all that goes with it.We'll look at all the
candidatesfrom President through Senator and Congressto state Supreme
Court Justice down to County Commissioner.We'll look at the issues.And
we'll vote our Pentecost understandingthat we are all one body in
Christand that faithful discipleship and faithful citizenshipboth
require that we love one another…to the ends of the
earth.Amen!

On May 12th during an audience with 900 women
religious from the International Union of Superiors General, Pope Francis said
it would be good to establish a commission to study the possibility of
"reinstating" women deacons. This could be a first step to the full
equality of women as priests and bishops in a renewed priestly ministry in a
community of equals.

It is clear from contemporary scholarship that
Scripture affirms that Jesus treated women in his community not as subordinates
but as equals. Women deacons, like Phoebe in Romans 16, played a major
leadership role in their communities.

The Roman Catholic Women Priests International
Movement (on 5 continents, 13 countries, and serving 81 faith communities in
the U.S.) is leading the way to a renewed priestly ministry in an inclusive,
egalitarian church where all are welcome to receive sacraments.

“I disagree with Pope Francis' position that a
woman cannot be in Persona Christi, and thus, cannot preach or preside
at Eucharist,” said Bridget Mary Meehan of ARCWP. “This argument is sexist and
denies the spiritual equality of women.
All the baptized are images of Christ created In Persona Christi.”

Woman Priest Janice Sevre-Duszynska will deliver
the responses to the following Petition to support Women Priests on June 3rd at
the Worldwide Jubliee to Celebrate Women Priests. The petition asks Pope
Francis to lift the excommunications against women priests, and our supporters
and to dialogue. All are invited to sign the petition.

"Catholics all around the world are served
by the faithful actions of Roman Catholic Women Priests, who lead inclusive
worshipping communities and live out Pope Francis' "Church of Mercy"
every day. However, these priests have been excommunicated simply for following
their call. Pope Francis-we are Catholics and people of faith and goodwill who
support women priests, because they have changed our lives for the better. Hear
our call, and lift the unjust excommunications of these priests and their
supporters."

Today during an audience with 900 women religious from the International Union of Superiors General, Pope Francis said it would be good to establish a commission to study the possibility of "reinstating" women deacons. This could be a first step to the full equality of women as priests and bishops in a renewed priestly ministry in a community of equals.

It is clear from contemporary scholarship that Scripture affirms that Jesus treated women in his community not as subordinates but as equals. Women deacons, like Phoebe in Romans 16 played a major leadership role in their communities.

The Roman Catholic Women Priests International Movement (with 225 members on 5 continents, 13 countries, and serving 81 faith communities in the U.S.) is leading the way to a renewed priestly ministry in an inclusive, egalitarian church where all are welcome to receive sacraments. I disagree with Pope Francis' position that a woman cannot be in Persona Christi, and thus, cannot preach or preside at Eucharist. This argument is sexist and denies the spiritual equality of women. All the baptized are images of Christ created In Persona Christi.Visit our Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests to see a list of our inclusive communities. www.arcwp.org

http://www.icontact-archive.com/oVcotBdZudgkAIhFx2LIxfHrmN3kMGRw?w=3

..."The Roman Catholic Women Priests movement has ordained hundreds of women who are already ministering to the people of God around the world, yet their call to the priesthood remains unrecognized by top Church leadership, including Pope Francis.

In just over two weeks, we will be delivering a petition to Pope Francis at the Jubilee for Women Priests, encouraging him to dialogue with women priests. We encourage all of our supporters to sign it at this crucial moment in Church history. "

The following Petition to Support Women Priests will be delivered to Vatican on June 3rd at Worldwide Jubliee to Celebrate Women Priests

TO: POPE FRANCIS

Catholics all around the world are served by the faithful actions of Roman Catholic Women Priests, who lead inclusive worshipping communities and live out Pope Francis' "Church of Mercy" every day. However, these priests have been excommunicated simply for following their call. Pope Francis-we are Catholics and people of faith and goodwill who support women priests, because they have changed our lives for the better. Hear our call, and lift the unjust excommunications of these priests and their supporters.

Why is this important?

Pope Francis says that "No one can be excluded from the mercy of God...[the Church's] doors remain wide open." Pope Francis has demonstrated his commitment to this mercy by reaching out to other orders of priests who have broken away from the church. In this spirit, we ask Pope Francis to affirm primacy of conscience for the women priests worldwide. In prophetic obedience to the Spirit, women priests live a renewed priestly ministry in communities of faith that welcome all and exclude no one.

Roman Catholic Women Priests, who stand in apostolic succession serve in a renewed priestly ministry in a community of equals. Those of us who are divorced and remarried, who are LGBTQ, and who have struggled with the Catholic faith, have found spiritual shelter in their worshipping communities. Here, we can fully participate in the Word of Jesus and the sacraments. They are living the Gospel message of radical inclusion.

Pope Francis, you have inspired the world with your message of a merciful Church, and we now implore you to live up to your message. Use the power of your office to open wide the doors to dialogue and lift all excommunications and ecclesiastical punishments against Roman Catholic Women Priests and their supporters. We are the Church. Listen to our cry for justice.

How it will be delivered

This petition will be delivered by a woman priest to the Vatican on June 3rd, during the Jubilee for Women Priests hosted by Women's Ordination Worldwide and the Women's Ordination Conference.

Women's Ordination Conference Media Release

Kate
McElwee: Italy (+39) 393-692-2100 kmcelwee@womensordination.org

Erin
Saiz Hanna: USA (+1) 401-588-0457 ehanna@womensordination.org

For
Immediate Release: 12 May 2016

Rome,
Italy: The Women's
Ordination Conference (WOC) applauds the women religious of the International
Union Superior Generals (UISG) for brazenly dialoguing with Pope Francis on
leadership and ministerial roles for women in the Church, including the opening
of the diaconate to women. In response to the sisters' questions, Pope Francis
agreedto launch a
Vatican Commission to study the diaconate to include women, stating: "It would
be good to clarify this."

Opening
a commission to study the diaconate for women would be a great step for the
Vatican in recognizing its own history. Decades
of research on this topic has already been published by renowned feminist
voices. WOC recommends that the Vatican's commission include the following
scholars: Gary Macy, Dorothy Irving, Ida Raming, Sr. Christine Schenk, John
Wijngaards, and Phyllis Zagano.

Biblical
evidence names several women deacons, working alongside men in the early Church
including: Phoebe, St. Olympias, Dionysia, St. Radegund and St. Macrina. Such a
commission, similar to the Pontifical Biblical Commission of 1976 that concluded
there is no scriptural barrier to women's priestly ordination, could begin to
restore the Gospel values of equality and justice.

Pope
Francis also stated that a woman cannot be in
Persona Christi, and
therefore cannot preach or preside over the Eucharist. WOC rejects this flawed
interpretation that a male body is a necessary condition of representing the
Body of Christ. Upholding this discrimination, as though it were the will of
God, is simply indefensible.

While
WOC celebrates this step from the Vatican, until women are included in all
decision-making structures and as priests and Bishops of the Church, equality
remains painfully denied.

May
22nd marks the 22nd anniversary of the Vatican's Ordinatio
Sacerdotalis,
banning all discussion on the ordination of women. WOC advocates that a new
commission on the diaconate include discussions on priestly ordination for women
in the Roman Catholic Church.

TO: POPE FRANCIS

Catholics all around the world are served by the faithful actions of
Roman Catholic Women Priests, who lead inclusive worshipping communities and live
out Pope Francis' "Church of Mercy" every day. However, these priests have been
excommunicated simply for following their call. Pope Francis-we are Catholics
and people of faith and goodwill who support women priests, because they have
changed our lives for the better. Hear our call, and lift the unjust
excommunications of these priests and their
supporters.

Why is this important?

Pope Francis says that "No one can be excluded from the mercy of
God...[the Church's] doors remain wide open." Pope Francis has demonstrated his
commitment to this mercy by reaching out to other orders of priests who have
broken away from the church. In this spirit, we ask Pope Francis to affirm
primacy of conscience for the women priests worldwide. In prophetic obedience to
the Spirit, women priests live a renewed priestly ministry in communities of
faith that welcome all and exclude no one.

Roman Catholic Women Priests, who stand in apostolic succession serve in
a renewed priestly ministry in a community of equals. Those of us who are
divorced and remarried, who are LGBTQ, and who have struggled with the Catholic
faith, have found spiritual shelter in their worshipping communities. Here, we
can fully participate in the Word of Jesus and the sacraments. They are living
the Gospel message of radical inclusion.

Pope Francis, you have inspired the world with your message of a merciful
Church, and we now implore you to live up to your message. Use the power of your
office to open wide the doors to dialogue and lift all excommunications and
ecclesiastical punishments against Roman Catholic Women Priests and their
supporters. We are the Church. Listen to our cry for
justice.

How it will be delivered

This petition will be delivered by a woman priest to the Vatican on June
3rd, during the Jubilee for Women Priests hosted by Women's Ordination Worldwide
and the Women's Ordination
Conference.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

It was raining a downpour in
New York City on May 6th as we joined the procession at Dorothy Day’s
home, Mary House Catholic Worker on East 3rd St., to make our way
with a brass band and banners to St. Francis Xavier Church on West
16th St. Drenched but full of spirit we were waking up the city at
7:30 a.m. to celebrate the life of Fr. Daniel Berrigan. I was marching with Anne
Dowling, a friend from School of the Americas Watch, and my partner, Max
Obuszewski. Max was a friend of Dan’s and did resistance with him as well as
with his brother, Phil.

At Washington Square, wide eyed
and smiling, we danced, marched and sang to show our gratitude for the life of
this courageous pacifist priest, a mentor and guide to so many during his nearly
95 years.

From across the country we
came, Catholic Workers, peace and justice activists and from other walks of
life, hugging each other. Many of us were elated to gather as friends who did
resistance together to bring about the Beloved Community. “Didn’t we get
arrested together?” we asked each other as we met.

Once inside the church Max and
I encountered hundreds and hundreds of people, many of whom were friends and
fellow resisters.

Once the memorial service
began, however, how disappointing to see only one female dressed in white among
the sea of male priests in white albs move up to the altar in this liberal
parish. Who was she? Francis has announced the Year of Mercy! When is gender
equality going to come in the Roman Catholic Church? When Dan Berrigan died,
those of us in the women priest movement re-read his 1977 piece on women and
women priests. He supported us.

My eyes water, my heart stirs
as I read Dan’s poem, “We Love,” at the beginning of the program: “What we love:
there are not blades enough.” I recall reading his book about Daniel in the
Lion’s Den while in federal prison and a few years ago Wisdom:The Feminine Face of God during our
trial for our witness at the nuclear weapons plant in Kansas City, MO.

As we gather for the Eucharist
we sing “We Are Called” by David Haas. Paging through this remarkable liturgy
put together by Frida Berrigan in less than five days, I come across songs we
sing at women priest ordinations, including my favorite, “The Servant Song.”

It is the Gospel of John: 32-45
that is proclaimed. After Mary professes her faith in Jesus, he calls the dead
Lazarus back to life.

I am delighted that rebel
priest, Jesuit Steve Kelly, is giving the homily. Before he begins, he wonders
if any FBI agents are present and suggests that it’s time to close their case on
Dan Berrigan. Laughter and clapping echo through the church! Steve has the
reputation of being in and out of jail. Buckle in and get ready to hear the
Spirit in Steve’s homily on live streaming!

During the prayers of petition
a woman addresses Dan’s support of women on the altar and the people in the pews
approve, clapping
uproariously!

For Communion everyone
processes through the center aisle. I had put on my stole this morning, green
quilted with scenes from the Gospels made by a Colombian women’s prison
cooperative. I wore it in Rome when I was detained by the Italian police during
the Conclave in 2013 for “dressing like a priest.” I had been ordained five
years!

When I reached the front in the
Communion line, it occurred to me that I might be denied Eucharist because I was
excommunicated for following my conscience and being ordained. However, the eyes
of the priest, John Cecero, smiled and welcomed me. What a blessing to be
here!

During the celebration the
Berrigan family shared their memories of Dan and we listened
intently.

We were sent forth with
Beethoven’s “Hymn to Joy” filling this glorious place abounding in the goodness
of Dan Berrigan’s life and the love of those who knew him. What an unforgettable
celebration of such a life-giving man! Although I never met Daniel Berrigan, he
touched me through his writings and his actions.

I have much to share about the
celebration of Daniel Berrigan’s life with our women priest community and women
priest friends and supporters, former Maryknoll priest Roy Bourgeois, founder of
the SOA Watch, and Franciscan priest and peace activist, Jerry Zawada, who has
been punished by his order for his support of women
priests.

Monday, May 9, 2016

Spirit of Love, your overflowing love permeates my being and all creation. May I love all with your tender love.Spirit of Compassion, your comfort embraces me and gives me strength in times of sorrow and stress. May I walk with those who are hurting and who need a friend. Spirit of Healing, your healing energy is within me and within all, May I be an instrument of peace, in communion with all beings.Spirit of Affirmation, your splendor shines through each person, May I affirm others through my words and actions. Spirit of Life, you are moving in me, in everyone and in everything. May I/we grow and evolve in Pentecost Passion and joy!Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org